Fence-post.



EVNITED "STATE Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. OADVVELL AND WILLIAM H. CADWELL, OF WAYNE, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST.

QPEGIFIGATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 73;,752, dated June 23, 1903. Application filed September 19, 1902. Serial No. 123,962. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD L. CADWELL and WILLIAM H. CADWELL, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Wayne, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful lmprovementsin Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fence-posts; and its object is to provide a post having an upper wooden section extending entirely above the ground and alower wooden section entirely below the surface, with an indestructible uniting-section consisting of metallic strips or strips and concrete so formed as to be very rigid and to firmly It is well known that the ordinary wooden fence-posts decay most quicklyjust at the top of the ground and often break off when the upper and sometimes the lower parts are still soundand would last for years. 7 It isalso a fact that some kinds of wood last longer than others under ground, while others less expensive will last quite as well above ground, so that a very durable and inexpensive post is secured byusing a shortsection of the best lasting wood below ground, utilizing short lengths of the cheaper material for the section above ground or even old posts, and uniting these parts or sections by metal strips, leaving the ends of the wooden sections far enough apart, so that the upper one will be entirely above the ground and the lower one entirely below the surface.

Our invention consists in the manner and means for connecting these two wooden sections to make a very rigid and strong post, and it also consists in providing connecting-strips which are curved transversely to fit the rounded wooden sections or made in the form of angle-iron to fit overthe' corners of a square section, each stripbeing formed with a fold, forming a tubular rib to give itrigidity.

The invention also consists in further strengthening these strips by inserting a wire in the tubular ribs and by filling the space between the ends of the wooden sections with cement; and the invention further consists in the particular arrangement, form, and combination of parts and in certain other new unite the wooden sections."

and useful features, all as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of, a round post embodying our invention; Fig. 2, the same, showing a square post; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a post, showing the same set in the ground and the space between the wooden sections filled with cement. Fig. is a similar elevation showing the post, partly in section, and showing a modified construction; Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the strips for a round post; and Fig. 7, a perspective view of a strip for a square post, showing the same provided w' suing-wire.

A is a wooden section, which when the post is set is entirely above ground, and B is a lower wooden section, which is completely buried in the dirt, and therefore not subjected to the action of the atmosphere.

(1' is a section extending a short distance above and a short distance below the ground and consists of strips D, of sheet metal, each formed with a fold alongits longitudinal center line, forming a tubular strengthening-rib D, and also being bent transversely to conform to the curve of the round wooden sections, or are bent in the shape of an angle-bar to fit over the corners of square sections, to which sections they are firmly secured by nailing, a space being left between the adjacent ends of the wooden posts, which space may be filled with cement E to stiffen the strips and cover the ends of the wood. Any desired number of these strips may be used,

and to further strengthen and stifien them wires F may be inserted in the tubular ribs D, which wires are bent over where they pro-' ject from the ends of the ribs. Curving the strips or forming them in the shape of angleironsmakes them very rigid, and by forming them with the ribs D, which are'made tubular in form, they are doubly stiff. The connecting-strips being formed ofsheet metal and the post composed of short lengths of timber make a very strong, cheap, and durable post. Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is- In a fence-post, the combination with an ith the strength- I upper and a lower section formed of Wood; ment Within the space between the ends of of a section formed of metallic strips bent the sections and the strips. transversely to conform to the surface of said In testimony whereof we affix our signasection to which they are secured to spage tlhe tures in presence of two witnesses. 5 adjacent ends of the sections apart an a so rigidly unite the same, said strips each being formed with a tubular stiffening-rib along its longitudinal center line and provided with a Witnesses: stiffening-wire which is inserted in said rib OTTO F. BARTHEL,

to and bent over at its ends; and a filling of ce- THOMAS G. LONGSTAFF. 

